On the Lakes 297 



is clear, that the British were beaten and forced to 

 flee, when but part of the American force was en- 

 gaged. But in good weather the American force 

 was so superior that being beaten would have been 

 no disgrace to Yeo, had it not been for the claims 

 advanced both by himself and his friends, that on 

 the whole he was victorious over Chauncy. The 

 Wolfe made anything but an obstinate fight, leav- 

 ing almost all the work to the gallant Mulcaster, in 

 the Royal George, who shares with Lieutenant Finch 

 of the Tompkins most of the glory of the day. The 

 battle, if such it may be called, completely estab- 

 lished Chauncy's supremacy, Yeo spending most of 

 the remainder of the season blockaded in Kingston. 

 So Chauncy gained a victory which established his 

 control over the lakes; and, moreover, he gained it 

 by fighting in succession, almost single-handed, the 

 two heaviest ships of the enemy. But gaining the 

 victory was only what should have been expected 

 from a superior force. The question is, Did 

 Chauncy use his force to the best advantage? And 

 it can not be said that he did. When the enemy bore 

 up it was a great mistake not to cast off the schooners 

 which were being towed. They were small craft, 

 not of much use in the fight, and they entirely pre- 

 vented the Madison from taking any part in the con- 

 test, and kept the Sylph at a great distance ; and by 

 keeping the Asp in tow the Pike, which sailed faster 

 than any of Yeo's ships, was distanced by them. 

 Had she left the Asp behind and run in to engage 

 the Royal George she could have mastered, or at 



